Stay tuned for the date of the 2008 Tug of War!
The Tug of War - Tug of War X: Nov. 10, 2007
For the past ten years, local and national attention has focused on
the Annapolis Harbor — or, as we like to call it, the Gulf
of Eastport — for a competition unlike any in the world:
the Slaughter Across the Water. It is the longest tug of
war over a body of water in the world.
Read about the history of the Tug
The Tug is staged between the Maritime Republic of Eastport — the MRE — and Downtown Annapolis, featuring a 1700’ rope, over 350 tuggers, and more than a thousand spectators. The Tug transforms Downtown Annapolis and Eastport with a festival-like atmosphere that includes food vendors, cheering crowds, and all sorts of local color. In the past few years, we have added Tugfest, adding a street festival to the tugging event with food and beverages, live music, and a silent auction. Traditionally the Tug has begun at the Crack o’ Noon with the Tugfest continuing until 5 p.m.
How You Can Help Your Community 
The Tug draws on the rivalry between Eastport and the City of Annapolis, with civic pride on
both sides allowing this zany event to improve more than community morale. The MRE has raised
close to $200,000 for charities over the past nine years. Each year, the MRE and
volunteers from Annapolis and beyond work long and hard to put together an event unlike any
other. In addition to a riotous battle, great food and fantastic camaraderie, the Tug offers the
chance to give back to the community that surrounds and supports us.
Sponsor dollars, volunteer efforts and tugger pledges combine to make the event a success for
attendees and the organizations that participate. The Tug could not continue without the
assistance of the generous community sponsors who help to keep overhead low and enthusiasm
high. Sponsors receive exposure to thousands of people through Tug advertising, on site
displays and Tug marketing efforts.
Proceeds from the Tug go to a selection of local charities, some of which rely on this donation as
a significant part of their operating budgets. The seven charities that will be supported by this
year’s Tug proceeds include: Box of Rain, Civil Air Patrol, Eastport Elementary School’s
Reading is Fundamental Program, OIC Job Readiness Center and the SPCA. There are also sponsorship opportunities, in many shapes and sizes, from T-shirt ads at $125 to an
exclusive Tug Heat Sponsorship at $3000. The MRE will work with you to design a sponsor
package that maximizes benefits for your organization and the charities involved with the Tug.
Please consider becoming a sponsor this year!! If you are interested in becoming involved with the MRE or the Tug of War, please email us at
mre_info@yahoo.com or call our sponsorship coordinator at 410-940-8019. We will send you a
sponsorship packet and any other information you might need.
see the 2007 poster
see the 2007 sponsor package
promote your business
at the 2007 Tug
See the news stories in
The Capital
(printer friendly version)
The Baltimore Sun
(printer friendly version)
Click on the red ball to see the last MRE Tug News Bulletin before the 2007 Tug
Who Can Tug?
Tuggers are needed on both the MRE and Annapolis sides. Tugging is great fun and everyone
is invited to the party afterward, regardless of win/loss, Annapolis/MRE. The three public
tugs are the Women’s, Men’s and Co-Ed tugs, each featuring 33 tuggers on a side. Tuggers
pledge a minimum of $20 and receive a limited edition, tuggers-only T-shirt for their efforts.
Tuggers come in all shapes, sizes and levels of athletic ability. If you are interested in becoming involved with the Tug of War, as a Tugger, Volunteer or
Sponsor, please email us at tug@themre.org. We will send you the
information you need.
Read about the 2006 Tug
See The Sailing Channel's Video of the 2006 Tug
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The Ambassador's Ball
The Ball is the MRE's annual (or almost annual) Celebration of the Anniversary of our Micro Nation’s secession from Annapolis (and especially, Ward One).
In the past few years, we've celebrated in the tradition of a Mardi Gras Parade with kinky Key West dress, and our own MRE dance party. There's been ample food, beer, and a really great Zydeco band — Little Red & The Renegades. We've drawn capacity crowds that have included many out-of-towners too.
As always, the proceeds go to charities. The beneficiaries last time were AMFM (the Annapolis Musicians Fund for Musicians) and NOMC (the New Orleans Musicians Clinic).
The 2008 Ambassador's Ball will be held on Saturday, March 8. Read all about it...
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The .05K Run Across the Eastport Bridge & Dog Day Afternoon
The Run
In the spring the MRE hosts internationally acclaimed Extreme Sports
Event, the .05K run across Spa Creek (The Gulf of Eastport) Bridge, followed by competition
of four-legged athletes in Dog Day Afternoon.
Runners, joggers, walkers, strollers, humans and dogs of all ages, are invited to participate in MRE's "grueling" bridge run. Yes, it's .05K – point oh-five-K. Past first place champions have completed the run in about 32 seconds, so MRE thoughtfully includes a water stop at mid-span and has held warm-up sessions prior to the race.
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For a modest entry fee, participants receive a priceless special edition event t-shirts designed by Eastport artist Cindy Fletcher-Holden, a runner's number to be pinned on their garments, a map of the race course, and a swag bag filled with goodies courtesy of local merchants. Invaluable trophies hand-crafted by Cindy and other prizes are awarded to the runners for a number of exciting, fun, creative and unique categories.
The start is on the Annapolis side, next to the Annapolis Yacht Club, whose ordinance officer has signaled the start with a bang! – the shot of the race cannon. Although participants are issued a map of the race course, they have also been able to follow a special pace car in order to avoid getting lost. Well, except for last time when the runners overtook the Mercedes Benz pace car...
Awards are presented at Eastport Elementary School at about three minutes after noon, and this is immediately followed by Dog Day Afternoon.
Dog Day Afternoon
This is a fun event showcasing
our community's real stars: our dogs! MRE awards prizes for the best dancing dog, best
singing dog, best costume,and best dog/owner look-alike and other similar categories. The modest registration fee gets
participants an MRE doggie bandana is a choice of several colors and a doggie swag bag
filled with valuable coupons and doggie items.
For the past few years, the SPCA Mobile Adoption van has been there as will other dog-oriented vendors.
In typical MRE fashion, all proceeds from both events go to the SPCA of Anne Arundel County and Eastport Elementary School's Reading is Fundamental program.
Read about the last Bridge Run & Dog Day Afternoon
